BRUMMIE CONTRAS
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  • QUAKER Hall : ABOUT THE VENUE
  • What's a Contra
    • But I've never really done this stuff before !
    • SIX at a time FLIERS. Please Copy, cut & DISTRIBUTE. THANK YOU if you can.
  • Tributes
    • Barry Selwood
  • Winter

Dance to brilliant, sparkling music.
We've lively bands & ace callers -
At the Brummie Contras.

Near M42 J5  From 2.10pm, enjoy a hot Drink & a chat. Big, enclosed car park

lively Brummie contras: B91 2SF - ELMDON HeaTH Community centre HALL : NEAR  J5 M42. click here FOR map & public transport.  Ask For £2.50 off when you dance at your first 3 contras.
    you're at the page  ABOUT BRUMMIE CONTRA DANCES  at Elmdon Heath Community Centre..
NB - CLICK the ABOUT title above for " VENUE " PAGE with BUS ROUTES & why we had to MOVE from Uni CHAPLAINCY
- then move cursor right for 3 more subsidiary pages.  -
​    
- Brummie Contras -
Our Main venue 2 - Elmdon Heath Community Centre. B91 2SF
The cool venue for FANS.

- Contras Sun afternoons 2.30 to 5.45 at this Elmdon Heath venue -
 -
travellers arrive 2.10 for a welcoming hot drink - 
Elmdon Heath C.C. Hall Solihull.                                                                                     
  This page:  
General  information about Brummie Contras.

- - Go to : sub-page 1) - Get to THIS VENUE  Elmdon Heath Community Centre - -
- - Go to : sub-page 2) - Details of Midland SUNDAY BUSES  to Elmdon Heath C C Hall - -
- - Go to : sub-page 3) - MAPS  / for car, bus stops, cycle, walking / to the C Centre Hall - -  
- - Go to : sub-page 4) - Routes from SOLIHULL STATION - (nearest RAIL) - -
- - Go to : sub-page 5) - Route to CC Hall from Birmingham International RAIL - -
-   Share-around  -  the joy & fun of being at these exciting dances with great callers.  -     
- 
  It's more fun if more come !    -    Let's try this to encourage you -
- ​ New to Contras here at Elmdon Heath ( & at B30 1JT ) ?
-  ASK ! £2.50 off at the door for your first AND your next visit to try the Brummie Contras.
-
Bring a friend who has NOT danced Brummie C's at these venues
-  You may EACH claim a discount of £2,50 at the door.
-  First time AND let us know beforehand -  claim a discount of £4 ! 
PictureHere's another gem picture from Mandy. It features some very skilful younger dancers .... C. 29Nov'15 Brummie Contra - also title picture. Dancing to dynamic Double Dichotomy.
 Join us and be welcomed.
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Our Contras are energetic.
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Dance to wonderful music from amazing bands.
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Find dance partners here.
*
For everyone to improve, we usually change around partners after each dance..
*

You need plenty of water !
P
lease regularly bring & refill a small bottle.
*
  Expect a range of ages
.
​
  Do dance considerately.
  Everyone really enjoys this exciting dancing to superb musicians.
_
     Some are supple; dancing with youthful exuberance.
A few of us - still delighting to participate in this lively dance style -  manage the moves with more limitations: & despite injury or age
.

- Always - especially in winter - check Website home page Sun at 10am  !
Relax after travelling. Inclusive hot drink & biscuits from 2.10pm.
THEN 3 HOURS of FUN & LIVELY DANCING, with more inclusive refreshments.
Prefer a more gentle afternoon? Relax at the tables. Enjoy the music without always being  pulled in to dance.

Celebration afternoons have a brief early extra bubbly/eats break.
Visit Brummie C's. Enjoy the regular dancers' company. Contras aren't hard to pick-up.
Meet others who enjoyed having recently tried their first visit.

- Most Dances are Sunday afternoons at Elmdon Heath Community Centre Hall : Helping you get there : and to research your return : -
  1) Details to generally recognise / locate the Hall -  Bus routes in Birmingham - see main VENUE page  !
DOES THIS HELP YOU GET THERE ?  new X12 route every 30 min to the Hall door, (& to across road directly opposite)  !
  2) For car - for cycling - to walk - for destination bus stops - see & download for smartphone,  or to print on MAPS page !
3) Get RAIL to nearest SOLIHULL STATION page - then to cycle, walk or for destination bus stops see MAPS page !
4) RAIL to BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL STATION page. Each 30min, direct X12 bus stops. CHECK details. NOT a nice walk !
5) RAIL to another Birmingham Station & continue by Sunday bus. Check for your station in the bus routes on the VENUE page
- then for final short walk to the Hall, see destination bus stops on MAPS page
!
Have a safe journey. Arrive for your pre-dance sociable hot drink & chat -
Enjoy a brilliantly lively Brummie Contra
!

**
Always welcomed are any kind donations of prizes for the raffle which Les so helpfully organises for the dances.
- You CAN have Brummie C's MORE often available - especially more Summer ones - 
- And one in September - Only if they're supported to properly fund band & caller - 
- It just needs YOU to COME TO THEM ! And to enjoy them regularly !
Avoid dehydration - we supply pleasant tasting tap water.  Helpfully, bring your own small water bottle to refill !
PRICE : BRUMMIE CONTRA with a superb contra-band & ace UK caller needs now to be
-  Dance - on the door
 -  £10.50   -   Student  £6.50  -  with generous refreshments included.
-  Bonus Dance - on the door -  £11.50   -   Student  £6.50  
-
  when an especially large band, or a long journey eg caller from USA. 
- To keep inviting these excellent bands & callers, we must offer them a fair recompense for their work and travel. -
The Brimmie C's need you keen contra dancers regularly to share lively Sunday afternoons: So please come AND bring your friends !
- If you BRING a NEW FRIEND along to dance - you can each save £2. Also save if you let us know that you will be coming next time.
-
For all Brummie Contra Dance DATES  -  see - page with DATES of Dances
- These lovely, lively Contras deserve to be enjoyed by more than a regular, loyal few!
-    So please,   -
- ​Share-around  -  the joy & fun of being at exciting dances with great bands & callers. -
Some earlier star players below in youthful prime when with the Warwick Folk Soc.   -
Picture
JOIN THE FUN - Brummie C's - mainly on afternoons, & at a lively pace. Always to great music. These star players: Warwick University Contra Dance Band.
Ladies - do you consider that men often try to "grab" you rather abruptly for a dance  ? - Please read Steve's insights. -
There are helpful ideas about how to be best placed for a Contra Dance partner 
- and ladies - you may always ask !
How do you best indicate - so that when you take a dance "out", it doesn't also stop another who is wishing to dance. 

HERE
Brilliant tips and insights for dancers -  What is revealed here allows many women to better appreciate a dance -
especially from a man's viewpoint.
(From Steve Harris - written on the Eceilidh site - At a Ceilidh or a Contra Dance, these same factors apply. )

Very Many THANKS -
To every one of the Superb Contra Band Players and Brilliant Callers we've had at "Brummie Contras".  Genuine generosity on their parts  -  almost without exception -
has enabled
many lively Brummie Contras - now entering their 4th year.
A door price is needed which brings fair recompense to lively contra-playing musicians.
Callers / players from USA. £1 more is requested at the door, to assist with their travel.
Our monetary responses need fairly to reflect how bands/callers put themselves out -
for us !

More lively  Brummie Contras - see Autumn Season and 2020 in DATES - 
Our Good Friday 3rd Anniversary Dance was at the Friends' Meeting House in Bournville.
T
he Elmdon Heath Hall is regretfully required to be left empty for this, our Dance Anniversary, despite 10 dances there in 2017.
The Bournville Quaker Hall helpfully was organised for this by Barry Selwood, prior to his untimely death: January 2017.
At Bournville, more popular with B'ham dancers, we receive ( thanks to Barry ) a hall pricing for regular bookers.
Since 2018, we have booked more dances at Bournville on afternoons and evenings.
Elmdon Heath's closeness to M42 J5 makes it popular with our regulars who travel a distance.
It would appear less so with rail travellers, some younger dancers, and some resident in Birmingham
.
- To keep excellent bands & callers, we must offer them fair recompense for their work & often long travelling costs. -
- The Brummie C's need YOU to be keen dancers: Regularly sharing lively Sunday afternoons: Please come AND bring your friends !
- If you BRING a NEW FRIEND along to dance - you can each save £2. Save £1.50 every time by signing the "coming next time" list.
  -
Callers - like the bands - some new, some established - all offer us brilliant dances.
Contra-dancing's versatility : may that long continue.

May it unite those thankful that "they still are just about able" - with the keen and more youthful dancers - 
all to enjoy fresh musical & dance dynamism from wonderful bands & callers - some yet to become recognised.
Also may our brilliant established Contra bands and callers long continue !

Keep taking a regular look at this website!
Share another great "Brummie Contra" soon.

Picture
The first BRUMMIE CONTRA of 2015. . . . . . picture by Mandy. Annie is with Les . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Val dancing with Harry. . . . Copyright.
ARRIVE ACCOMPANIED OR NOT – YOU ARE MOST WELCOME !

AT A  CONTRA, YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF DANCE PARTNERS.
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MANY REGULAR DANCERS MIX WELL BETWEEN PARTNERS -
-  S
HARING IMPROVEMENTS IN EACH OTHERS DANCE MOVEMENTS.  -
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ALL THIS HELPS TO MAKE THE DANCING EVEN MORE FUN.
 


Most contra dancers like to improve skills by regular partner changes after 1 or 2 dances.
Anyone may ask anyone else to dance – Go for it !

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Picture
Jen
*You may wish to click on this page & its pictures -
" But I've never really done this stuff before" page. 

Picture. . 25th January 2015 with Vertical Expression . . All pictures by Mandy. Copyright.
American Contras are a happy
and lively
experience !

**
so - What is a
Contra dance ?
click  - HERE -    
- "blue" takes you to another page 

***

Picture
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        IF YOU TRAVEL ALONE –     
 –  YOU WILL BE W
ELCOMED     
TO THE BRUMMIE CONTRAS.


*
**



A
T A CONTRA,
YOU
WILL ALWAYS HAVE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE DANCING
WITH A PLEASING VARIETY OF DIFFERENT DANCING PARTNERS
.

***

Contras are a great occasion for the young and keen.
Many still are very keen on this dancing, but are wishing they were younger !

Respect please the occasional person recovering from injury -
And many thanks for the understanding & adaptation of dancers, allowing Annie to somewhat dance again with us after her stroke.

Thanks for respecting all occasions when someone enjoys the company & music, but dances less, or at their own more gentle pace.

Why on Sunday afternoons ?  Easier journey: Time for tea/coffee before the dance - Fewer regular activity clashes. 
- - Go to TOP of THIS page - ABOUT - Brummie Contras at Elmdon Heath Community C. Solihull - -
- - Go to
: sub-page 1) - Get to THIS VENUE  Elmdon Heath Community Centre - -
- - Go to : sub-page 2) - Details of Midland SUNDAY BUSES  to Elmdon Heath C C Hall - -
- - Go to : sub-page 3) - MAPS  / for car, bus stops, cycle, walking / to the C Centre Hall - -  
- - Go to : sub-page 4) - Routes from SOLIHULL STATION - (nearest RAIL) - -
- - Go to : sub-page 5) - Route to CC Hall from Birmingham International RAIL - -
- -  Go to Top of the HOME Page - -                                                                                           
- -   Go to page with DATES of Dances - -                                                   
                   - - Go to the page - ABOUT - Brummie Contras at the Quaker Hall, Bournville.      VISIT the  -   WHAT'S A CONTRA ? -   page                    
          *           *                                  
Title pic: Title  picture - Carol Ormand from USA calls at Brummie Contra - music, Vertical Expression.
 -  Pic copyright Mandy - Sunday - at our current venue 2. 
                                                                                                       Page last updated on  12/12/19
Return to  TOP OF THE HOME  Page

CONTACT US page

​I / we wish to be AT THE NEXT DANCE
Page with details to get £1.50 each off door price next time.
Also deadlines (to check before you email).
For a group, download a form to complete & email.


Go to Great Alne Long Weekend website -
24th -27th April in 2020 for its DETAILS.

Event doubly extends the last w/e of April in 2020 
Quality workshops for ALL ages / abilities.
Enjoy a contra here on the Friday eve.
Karin Bellaart from the NETHERLANDS will also bring all kinds of lovely INTERNATIONAL DANCES as Nel did in 2017 & 2018.

EXCELLENT PART-SONG & A WIDE RANGE of OTHER DANCING.

Bring (grand)children. Share Maypole/Morris dances & ring handbell tunes from before noon on Sat & Sun.
NEW IN 2018 - EXTRA Sat/Sun PRICE DROPPED for ADULT DANCERS and THEIR ACCOMPANIED u18's

( The Great Alne Long Weekend is a "sister" website to this one) -
 click-on to go to one of these pages - 

ELMDON HEATH CC/RAIL/BUS  - Page especially to help with Rail Station connections, and Sunday bus services to Elmdon Heath Community Centre Hall.


See ROUTEMAPS:DOWNLOAD&PRINT -
 - Page has maps for car, bus stops, bike path & walking routes -
- to the   -  Elmdon Heath Community Centre venue. Download this to a smartphone to carry to walk from bus etc,
(or print on paper) to carry: even in the car. Ideal for initial visits. 




 CONTRA - What's that !   -  Information Page,


 But I've never really done this stuff before !  - Information Page.
DANCE DATES page
​  
FLIERS for NEXT BRUMMIE CONTRA pages. These may Pop-up : often below Dance DATES.
They are in pdf. You may view or DOWNLOAD.
If you would like to share out the fun of the "Brummie Contra" dances - then (regularly please) download, print - and distribute a few of these fliers in your area & dance club.
For some Contras to come, a flier page pop-up may show below other main pages or elsewhere !